Cooking device



R. RIDGELY COOKING DEVICE March 4, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 2'7, 1946 INVENTOR. RICHARD R1 065 LY R. RIDGELY COOKING DEVICE March 4, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 27, 1946 R. RIDGELY COOKING DEVICE March 4, 1952 7 Shee ts-Sheet 3 Filed May 27, 1946 INVENTOR. RICHARD RI DGELY R. RIDGELY COOKING DEVICE March 4, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 27, 1946 Q.. ME V 6 mm R D R A H K R R. RIDGELY COOKING DEVICE March 4, 1952 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 27, 1946 INVENTOR RICHARD RIDGELY ATTORNEY March 4, 1952 R. RlDGELY 2,588,046

COOKING DEVICE Filed May 27, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 j INVENTOR.

RICHARD RIDGELY Patented Mar. 4, 1952 UNITED STAT ATE-NT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in rotisseries, ovens and broilers, and combinations thereof.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide efiicient, economical and novel cooking means embodying practical constructions and operation and requiring a minimum of attention on the part of the operator.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide roasters and broilers of improved construction and operation wherein means are provided for imparting to the fowl and meats to be roasted or broiled, a high degree of heat free from smoke and flame and by means of which the broiling or roasting of fowl and meats may be rapidly and effectively accomplished.

A still further object of the present invention resides in providing an attachment for a cooking range or stove so that meat and fowl may be barbecued or roasted while the spit associated with the attachment is continuously revolved in the heat zone.

Yet another object of the present invention resides in providing a cooking oven utilizing charcoal as the combustible agent deriving its heat from a gas burner or electric heating element and further utilizing means for blowing and conducting air over and above the charcoal.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a spit supporting unit having spit-rotat ing mechanism and which may be slid into a cooking cabinet or stove in position to enable the spit-rotating mechanism to be operatively connected to driving mechanism in the cabinet, the unit preferably being adapted to operatively support a plurality of spits to be rotated; a still further object being to provide novel spit-retaining means in the unit.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a meat-holding spit with a gear to enable it to be operatively connected to spit-rotating mechanism.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a cooking cabinet or stove with driving mechanism, and optionally with swinging door or sliding drawer, or both, carrying spit-supporting means, and spit-rotating means operatively connecting with the driving mechanism when the door is swung or the drawer retracted to closed position for rotating the spit.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a door of a range or stove with spitsupporting means: other objects being in making said means adjustable, removable or collapsible, and in further providing heating-reflecting means adjacent the spit-supporting means; and in further providing means for rotating the spit.

Another object of the present invention is to equip a domestic cooking range with spit-supporting means and means for rotating the spit.

Another object of the present invention resides in providing'units for the broiler and roasting compartments of a domestic cooking range for effectively and efiiciently roasting fowl and meat, the unit for the broiler compartment providing air-blowing means connectable to the unit in the roasting compartment which latter unit is arranged to be located above the gas burner or electric heating element and comprising a holder for charcoal and air ducts for directing the blown air over and above the charcoal, an important feature of the said units being the fact that they may be applied and removed very easily, thus permitting the use of the broiler and roaster compartments in the conventional way for ordinary broiling, toasting, etc., the entire units being removable.

It is yet another object of the present invention to enable anyone owninga domestic cooking range to use charcoal for roasting fish, fowl and meats. thereby imparting to that food being roasted the delightful aromatic flavor and characteristic taste that can onlybe produced by a charcoal fire.

Other objects and advantages will be in part obvious from the annexed drawings and in part hereinafter indicated in connection therewith by the following analysis of this invention.

This invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of parts and in the unique relations of themembers and in the relative proportioning and disposition thereof,'

all as more completely outlined herein.

To enable others skilled in the art so fully to comprehend the underlying features thereof that they may embody the same by the modifications in structure and relation contemplated by this invention, drawings depicting certain forms of the invention have been annexed as a part of this disclosure, and in such drawings, like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout all the views, of which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a device incorporating a plurality of features embodied in the invention;

Fig. 1a is a sectional view of a detail seen in Fig. 1; v

Fig. 2 is a frontview partly in section showing somewhat in detail, some of the features embodied in Fig. 1 as well as additional features;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a tray having a multiple of spits employable with the device seen in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken through line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of the portion of Fig. 4 for holding the spit in place;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a ball lock employable in the invention;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken through line 1--! of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a spit;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a door arrangement including spit-holding device and which is employable with either Fig. 1 or Fig; 2;:

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a removable spit holder employable in connection with Fig. 1;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a modified form. of spit-holding arrangement.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a further modified form of spit-holding arrangement;

Fig. 14 is a sectional'view. taken on line I'4l4 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a detail sectional view of the spit holder A of Fig. 1;

Fig. 16 is a plan view of a grid and grid holder emnloyable in the invention;

Fig. 17 is a side viewof Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of a spit container employable as a separate unit placeable on a conventional stove or as an integral part of said stove;

Fig. 19 is an elevational view of'the spit support B of Fig. 1;

Fig. 20 is a perspective view of a heating assembly employable in the invention;

Fig. 21 is a diagrammatic view of a conventional stove in which the assembly of Fig. 20 may be received, and

Fig. 22 is a perspective view of a wall with adjustable feature shown also in Fig. 20..

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is disclosed in Fig- 1 a diagrammatic representation of a stove 24, embodying several features of the invention. These features may be used together, separately or in. any desired combination. Attached to body 25 is a swingable'door 26, below which. is. another swingable door 21, and below door 21 is a drawer 28; Mounted on door 26 are a pair of spaced u rights or supports 29 adapted to receive'the spit 30. Spit 30 has the usual prongs 3|. Supports 29 may be either swingably connected to door 26 as seen in Fig. 9 or may be made removable therefrom similarly to that depicted in the support seen in Fig. 10.

Rotatably mounted on one of the supports 29 is a gear 32-. Gear 32hasa hollow stub shaft 33 receiving one end of spit 30, the other end of spit 39 being receivable through a slot 34 in the other support 29. Shaft 33 has a set screw 33a to hold one end of spit 30 therein.

There may also be arranged on door 26 a rack 35 adapted toreceive a plurality of spits (not shown) a tray 36 being disposed between the rack bars 35a, 35b.

Horizontally disposed in spaced relation are the heating units 31, which may be electrical or gas operated.

On one of the vertical sidepanels 38 are rotatably arranged in spaced relation idler gears 39 over which is trained asprocket chain 40. Motion is transmitted to chain 40' through a" motor not seen in Fig. 1, but similar to motor ll! of Fig. 2. It is evident that when do r 2. is.

4 closed, gear 32 will engage sprocket chain 40 and thereby rotate causing rotation of spit 30 in supports 29.

Mounted on door 21 are the spaced side walls 5 46 which also serve as spit supports. Gear 49 is mounted on one of the supports 46. Spit 47 has one of its ends received in a U bushing 48 in the other support 48, the other end of spit 41 being connected to a hollow stub shaft of gear 10 4-9. Gear 49 and its hollow stub shaft as well as gear 50 and its hollow stub shaft are of the same construction as that depicted in Fig. la with respect to gear 32 and its hollow shaft 33.

When door 21 is swung to closed position, gear 15 49will engage sprocket chain 40.

Spit 51 is mounted on the side walls 52 of drawer. 28 in a manner similar to the spits 30 and 41. hereinbefore mentioned. It is evident that when drawer 28 is slid to closed position go gear 50 will engage sprocket chain 40. The doors 2E and 21 and drawer 28 may be provided with the front transparent panels 53, 54, 55, respectively.

The top 60 of the stove (Fig. 1) is provided with the plurality of conventional burners 6|.

2:; For representative purposes there are shown a 30 63 is provided with a plurality of spaced holes 64,

anyone of which may be engaged by the pin 65 having a head 66; pin 65 being operable on member 62'. Member 62 is fixed on top 60. Top 60 has heat insulation 61 and brackets 68 to se- 35 curely hold' members 62 to top 60.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 15 it is to be understood that the entire housing or spit support A may be made to completely retract within the stove so that the flange 33a is made substan- 4G tially flush with the top 60 of the stove.

It is evident that vertical height adjustment may be readily made by withdrawing pin 65. raising or lowering member 63 with relation to member 62, and then inserting pin 65 in a suitable hole 64.

Mounted on member 63 is friction wheel 69 and mounted on member 62 is a friction wheel 10. Adjacent wheel 69 is a gear II, and on shaft 12 on which wheel In is mounted is a gear 13.

Trained over wheels 89 and 10. is a spring belt (4. Gear 13 engages sprocket chain 40. Spring belt 14 allows for the raising and lowering of member 63, as desired.

The support members 63 have the keyhole shaped openings 15 for receiving the ends of the spit. The spit, one form of which is seen in Fig. 8 has a gear 16 at one end of its shaft 1'! and is provided with the prongs I8. Shaft 11 may be tapered at its other end. Gear 16 is adapted to engage sprocket chain 14 (Fig. 15) to be driven thereby.

As heretofore stated the stove 24 may be provided with the spaced spit supports B shown in greater detail in Fig. 19. The support 80 is arrangedto swing in either direction (frontward or rearward) relatively to the top of the stove by means of curved bracket 8| slidable in an opening in the stove. Suitable spring or other means (not shown) may be provided to engage the perforations 82 to maintain the bracket 8| in any (5 longitudinal rows of the burners 6!. Of course.

if the spit supports B are employed, then, the spit supports A and C are eliminated. The spit driving mechanism may be similar to that employed in connection with the supports A, in which case, there will be provided elements equivalent to 69 to 14, inclusive, of Fig. the gear 13 of Fig. 15 becoming the gear 83 of Fig. l engaging the sprocket chain 40.

The spit supports C may be fixed or hinged to or removable from the top of the stove 24 and may be provided with elements similar to 69 to 14, inclusive, of Fig. 15; the gear 13 of Fig. 15 becoming the gear 85 of Fig. l engaging the sprocket chain 40.

Referring now to Fig. 2 of the drawings and the details shown in Figs. 3 to 8, inclusive, there is disclosed a cabinet I00 having hinged front doors IOI, I02, I03; and horizontal shelves or partitions I04, I05. There is also a vertical partition or wall I06 spaced from the exterior wall I 01 providing a compartment housing the sprocket chain I08 trained over sprocket gears I09, I I0. In the bottom compartment III is located the gear I09 and also motor II2 driving shaft II3 to which gear I09 is connected; bracket II4 rotatably supporting fan I I5 driven by belt I I6 trained over pulley II1 of motor II2. Belt H8 trained over the same pulley II1 operates a fan (not shown) similar to fan II 5 and located to the left of motor H2 in compartment I03a. Air inlets or vents II9 are provided through bottom I20. An air duct I2I directs air from compartment I03a to compartment I021 a filter screen I22 being provided. Air duct I2I has its outlet I2Ia adjacent the top of charcoal I28.

In compartment I02a there are provided spaced guide walls I23 each having a horizontal flange I24 adapted to slidingly receive a heating unit H comprising a grill pan I25, the side walls I26 of which support a plate I21 adapted to receive charcoal I28 or other combustible agent. Plate I21 is arranged to slidingly engage the said walls I26. Within pan I is located any desirable heating agent, gas or electric. Numeral I29 indicates either the electric coils or gas burners. Air duct I2I extends above the pan I25 and charcoal holding plate I21, so that air entering through inlets II 9 will be driven by fan II5 through filter I22 and air duct I2I and directed above the charcoal I28 to support combustion thereof, as indicated by the arrow I30. It is understood that a similar air duct (not seen) may be provided to the left of compartment I02a.

Above partition I05 there is provided suitable I heat insulation I3I, and above the latter is provided a heat reflector plate I32 so that the heat impinging upon plate I32 may be reflected upwardly. Also in compartment I02a may be provided pairs of side guide flanges I34, I35, respectively slidingly receiving conventional grills I36, I31.

Supported on partition plate I04 is a heating unit Ha similar to the unit H described with reference to compartment I02a. Charcoal may be placed on plate I21a. At the top of compartment I No may be provided another heating unit I which may be operated electrically or by gas. Guide brackets I M slidingly support this unit 1 I40. Grills I42, I43, are respectively slidingly received on guide flanges I44, I45.

Slidably received in compartment IOIa is a spit holder which may be of the type seen in 'Figs. 3 and 4. This spit is placed and removed from compartment IOIa by first swinging open door I0I.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, there is provided a substantially box-like frame I50 having side walls I5I, I52 connected by a rear wall I53. Side wall I5I is provided with a horizontal flange I54 and side wall I52 has a projection I55.

Projection I55 slidingly engages the vertical inside wall I56 of horizontal guide channel bracket I51, the bottom I58 of box-like structure I59 being slidingly supported on the top of bracket I 51. Flange I54 is slidingly supported on a similar bracket (not' seen) located adjacent the side wall I60 of cabinet or broiler I00. Handles I6I are provided for inserting and removing unit I50.

Wall I5I is provided with a plurality of spaced holes I62 each of which is adapted for receiving one end 11a of shaft 11 of spit S. The spit is illustrated in Fig. 8 and is also seen in Figs. 2 and 3.

Wall I52 is provided with the spaced recesses I65 in each of which are pivotally connected spaced apart triangularly-shaped spit retainers I66 normally urged outwardly by compression spring I68, one end of which is received in recess I 69 of wall I10. It is evident that when the shaft 11 of spit S is pressed against the retainers I66, the later will spread apart against the compression of springs I68 and allow shaft 11 to pass therebetween and be blocked by retainers I66.

Box-like structure or casing I59 contains the rotatably mounted spaced sprocket gears I15, I16, I11 over which is trained the sprocket chain I18. Mounted on shaft I19 of sprocket I16 is the gear I80. Casing I59 is provided with a plurality of openings I8l, each of said openings being adjacent a recess I65 and adapted to receive teeth of gear 16 connected to spit S. It is evident that when spit S is positioned in frame I50, gear 16 will engage sprocket chain I18 through opening I8I; and when frame I50 is slid into compartment IN a, gear I will engage sprocket chain I 08 (Fig. 2). Motion of sprocket chain I08 will be imparted to gear I80, sprocket chain I 18 and gear 16, thereby rotating spit S.

Casing I59 is reduced as indicated at I to permit engagement of gear I80 with sprocket chain I08. Broiler or cabinet I00 is provided with conventional heat insulation I86, I81, and the motor, thermostat and electric heater controls M011, M017 and I 400 respectively.

A longitudinal groove I86 is provided in channel guide I51 providing a track for ball I89 urged in an outward direction by spring I90 located in recess I9I. Ball I89 is prevented from falling out of recess I9I by the inturned wall I92 of socket I93 fixed to box I59. Ball I89 and spring I90 are retained in socket I93 by threaded cap I94. The device depicted in Figs. 3 and 4 may be permanently attached in cabinet I00 instead of being removable.

Door IOI may be any one of the types depicted in Figs. 9, 11 and 13. In Fig. 9, door 200 has recess 20I provided with a heat reflector 202. At the ends of recess 20I are provided the spit supports 203 hinged as indicated at 204. Supports 203 may be swung down within recess 20I when not in use. Supports 203 are provided with the retainer elements, I66. There also may be provided on door 200, a spit rack comprising the slotted members 205, the door between said rack being depressed as indicated at 206 providing a trap for grease and other drippings from food placed on the spit, while being broiled, a gutter 202a being provided at bottom of trap.

The door illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12 genera-11y indicated by the numeral 208 comprises the plate 209 having heat insulation, 2H1 and being provided with the plurality of, longitudinal depressions 2!! for trapping grease and other drippings. Hingedly secured as indicated at 2|2 is-a pair of spaced spit-carrying arms, H3, H4, the former having a hole H5 and the latter having a slot 2!6 for receiving the spit S. Pivotally connected to each of the arms 2!3, 2I4, is a supporting leg 2!1, the free end of which is adapted to be received in a recess 2!8 whereby to. operatively support the spit-carrying arms 2| 3, 2l4. When in inoperative position, the arms 2l3, 2!4 and legs 2!1 are received in the transverse grooves 2!9. Legs 2!1 are provided with handles 2l1a or they may be eliminated as desired.

According to Figs. 13, and 14, the door 220 which is heat insulated as indicated at 22!, is provided with the spaced hinged spit supports 222, receivable in the depression 223 when said supports are in inoperable position. Depression 223 is provided with the heat reflector 224. A longitudinal pocket or cavity 225 is provided for receiving the spit S when not in use. A cover 225 is provided for pocket 225. Cover 226 may be hinged as indicated at 221 or it may be arranged to slide relatively to door 220.

Fig. illustrates a type of removable spit support 230 which may be employed, for example, inlieu of the supports C of Fig. 1. Support 239 is provided with the brace or bracket pins 23! adapted to be received in suitable openings in the stove or broiler for use and disengaged therefrom for storage purposes. Support 230 is provided with a sprocket chain 232 trained over gears 233, 234. Gear 234 i arranged to mesh with gear 85 (Fig. 1) when support 230 is placed in operative position; and gear 16 of spit S is engageable with the sprocket chain 232 when the spit is positioned on the supports.

Figs. 16 and 1'? illustrate a type of grill 235 for which is provided removable handle means 236, comprising the arms 231 having hooked ends 238 and hooks 238a adapted to engage the grill, the cross bar 239 and hand grips 240. It is evident that handle means 236 may be made to grip the cross member 242 of the grill at which time the arms 231 will be supported by one of the sides 24!; or the arms 231 may be modified to grip appropriate cross members 243.

Fig. 18 illustrates a type of portable broiler 245, which may be placed on top of a conventional stove. The spit S is removably and rotatably supported by the ends 246, to the shaft of which is connected a gear 241 externally of one of the ends 246. Gear 241 may be connected to any suitable driving means (not shown). A door 243 having a window 249 is provided.

Fig. 21 represents a gas or electric cabinet-type range having an upper compartment 250 and a lower compartment 25 Upper compartment 250 has the side guide flanges 253 for supporting trays or grills and 252 for supporting the heating unit 254 as more specifically described later on. The range may have the conventional storage compartment 255 and gas controls 256.

The compartment 250 is usually designated as the oven and the compartment 25! as the broiler. Between the two compartments 250 and 25! islocated the burner, either gas or electric, and above the burner is located a removable tray. The burner and tray being conventionaLtheyare omitted from the drawing.

The device illustrated in Fig. 20 comprises the units 254 and 251. Unit 251 comprises a base plate or frame 258 to which is secured a housing 259 for. a blower motor (not seen). A conduit 260 extends from housing 259 to which is connected the conduit arms 26!, 262. Arm 26! extends upwardly and has a slidable sleeve 263. slidably connected to arm 262 is an L-shaped conduit 264 terminating in a slidable sleeve 265. Unit 251 is placed in compartment 25!, and unit 254 is placed in compartment 250. The conventional horizontal partition between compartment 250 and 25! is removed. Unit 254 is supported by opposite guide flanges 252, for which purpose there is provided on the walls 210 of angular supports 21!, vertical slots 212 slidably receiving bolts 213 engaging angular flanges 214. Bolts 213 threadedly engage wing nuts 215. It is evident that flanges 214 may be raised or lowered relatively to wall 210 and fixed relatively thereto by tightening the Winged nuts, for the purpose of being supported by the flanges 252 in compartment 259 to maintain the supports 21! at the desired height. Secured to each support 21! is a longitudinal air duct 21'! having its upper end projecting inwardly as indicated at 218. Each air duct 211 has connected thereto a nipple 219. Seated on the horizontal portions of supports 21! is a pan or plate 280. Pan 29!) may be secured to supports 21! by means of bolts and wing nuts 28!. Supports 219 may be spread further apart or brought closer together relatively to pan 280 by a slot arrangement similar to that shown in Fig. 22 relatively to flange 214, this being provided in. order to fit unit 2 54 in compartment 250 with the flanges 214 in supporting engagement with flanges 252, allowing for width variations of compartment 250 in diiferent sizes or makes of ranges. The charcoal 282 may be placed directly on plate 280 or in a separate pan or container 283.

After unit 254 is placed in compartment 25!] and unit 251 is placed in compartment 25!, sleeves 263, 265 are made to slide over the ends of nipples 219 thereby providing continuous closed passages for air to be blown from the housing 259 through air ducts 211 above onto and over the burning charcoal 282. The charcoal is made combustible by means of the burner in the range and located between compartments 259, 25!. Air vents are provided in base 258 below housing 259.

It is to be particularly observed that in the heating units shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 20, air is provided above and over the burning charcoal. It is also to be noticed that the charcoal is supported on a solid plate or pan in preference to a perforated plate or grill.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is apparent that improved simple, practical and inexpensive devices for the purpose intended are provided. It is apparent however, that immateriaLchanges and modifications may be made by skilled persons without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as outlined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a cooking device, a cabinet, a door for said cabinet, driving means in said cabinet, a spit member, spit supporting means on said door, and spit rotating means connectable to said driving means when the door is closed.

2.. Ina cooking device, a cabinet, a door for said cabinet, driving means in said cabinet, a

spit member, spit supporting means on said door,

spit rotating means connectable to said driving means when the door is closed, and heat reflecting means on the inside of said door.

3. In a cooking device, a cabinet, a door for said cabinet, driving means in said cabinet, a spit member, adjustable spit supportin means on said door, and spit rotating means connectable to said driving means when the door is closed.

4. In a cooking device, a cabinet, a door for said cabinet, driving means in said cabinet, a spit member, removable spit supporting means on said door, and spit rotating means connectable to said driving means when the door is closed.

5. In a cooking device, a cabinet, a door for said cabinet, driving means in said cabinet, a spit member, collapsible spit supporting means on said door, and spit rotating means connectabl to said driving means when the door is closed.

RICHARD RIDGELY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Giovanna Nov. 3, 1908 Trescott Nov. 28, 1911 Day Feb. 3, 1914 Schwenger 1 Mar. 30, 1915 Maul Aug. 8, 1922 Schey Jan. 16, 1923 Schey Feb. 18, 1930 Dibble June 7, 1932 Dufiy Aug. 27, 1935 Thompson Nov. 3, 1936 Babin Apr. 19, 1938 McGlove Jan. 17, 1939 Johnson Mar. 5, 1940 Dufour Dec. 24, 1940 Wilsey May 13, 1941 A11er Nov. 18, 1941 Kahn May 9, 1944 Kreb June 26, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Number France July 22, 1935 

